One of the goals on my bucket list is to visit 6 out of the 7 continents by the time I turned 30, with the continent of Africa being my 6^th continent. I was on track to complete this goal in my 30^th year of life with a trip to Morocco when the world suddenly came to a grinding halt in 2020. My trip was postponed, and when it was rescheduled the new dates and accommodations did not work for me, so I canceled my trip. As the years have passed, I have traveled internationally, but a trip to the Motherland kept evading me.  In January of this year, as I was discussing upcoming travel with my family, I declared that “these feet will make it to Africa this year.” Little did I know just how closely God was listening.

         Fast forward a few weeks, and while on a work trip, my boss turned to me and asked me if I would be attending any of the workshops that my organization was hosting around the world.  I replied, “not that I know of.” She encouraged me to look and see if I could attend any in person. They were happing in February (it was currently February 7^th ) and the beginning of March. I looked at the schedule and did not see how I could possibly make it to any of these workshops. I was traveling to London for another work trip in a week, and the dates were too close for me to organize everything for myself logistically. After I told my supervisor, I don’t think it’s possible she asked me if maybe I could travel straight from London to one of the workshops? I told her that I would take the weekend to think about it, because the only workshop that worked for me was one in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

         As I took the weekend to think and pray and asked God for signs(which he provided), I also heard him say what’s the problem? This has been your dream, and the opportunity is presenting itself, I don’t see the issue. I was left speechless, because there was no issue other than it was not in my control. I hadn’t planned for it, I didn’t feel prepared, I didn’t feel ready. As I wrestled with my choice, I was reminded how often our prayers that we have prayed for years, will be answered in the blink of an eye. My declaration of my feet touching African soil, was about to come to fruition, and here I was willing to let the opportunity pass me by because I was scared.

         I think many times our answered prayers feel delayed, because while we wait, we are meant to get ready. We can’t see our future, and we can’t see how the time spent waiting will prepare us in the long run, but we are only meant to trust that everything will be made beautiful in its time.  When I envisioned traveling to the continent of Africa, I always envisioned traveling to East Africa first, so Kenya or Tanzania, not Morocco as previously planned.  And while this trip would be visiting East Africa, I was originally only planning to go to Ethiopia, until it was suggested that I visit our office in Nairobi since it was so close.  Here God was answering my prayers, because I was willing to trust that he was in control.

         And what I learned on this trip, is that God never lets an opportunity to answer your prayers not answer someone else’s. I have a family member who recently moved to West Africa and was hoping to take some time away from work for a respite in February. Unfortunately, that was not able to happen, but as soon as I knew my trip was happening, I reached out to see if we could connect while we would both be on the same continent. Miraculously  we were able to connect while I was in Nairobi, and my answered prayer became her answered prayer as well.  

         Our lives can only be lived forward, but they are understood backwards. We might not be able to see how our lives will work out, but we can trust that God is in control. All we can do while we wait, is to prepare ourselves. So, when our prayers are answered, we can move. Without doubt, or hesitation. When I envisioned my first trip to the Motherland, this is not what I envisioned. But I can see how every step I’ve taken led to a trip that was beyond my expectations. A prayer that was answered, right on time.